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Antiseptics and Disinfectants: History

Antiseptics and disinfectants have been used since the 19th century to prevent infection and the spread of disease. Louis Pasteur's germ theory of disease helped establish the use of antiseptics like phenol. Antiseptics are applied to living tissue to prevent or stop microbial growth, while disinfectants are used on inanimate surfaces. Ideal antiseptics and disinfectants have broad-spectrum activity, low toxicity, and do not harm skin or surfaces. Factors like concentration, contact time, temperature, and organism type influence the efficacy of antiseptics and disinfectants.

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3K views

Antiseptics and Disinfectants: History

Antiseptics and disinfectants have been used since the 19th century to prevent infection and the spread of disease. Louis Pasteur's germ theory of disease helped establish the use of antiseptics like phenol. Antiseptics are applied to living tissue to prevent or stop microbial growth, while disinfectants are used on inanimate surfaces. Ideal antiseptics and disinfectants have broad-spectrum activity, low toxicity, and do not harm skin or surfaces. Factors like concentration, contact time, temperature, and organism type influence the efficacy of antiseptics and disinfectants.

Uploaded by

Sunil
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Antiseptics and Disinfectants

History
 Louis Pasteur (1822 - 1895)- demonstrations of the germ theory of disease,
ending spontaneous generation (Swan flask), Pasteurization
 Robert Koch (1843 - 1910)- Mycobacterium tuberculosis (1882), Vibrio
cholerae (1883
 Ignaz Semmelweis (1818 – 1865) -importance of hygene, in 1847 - mortality
rate due to puerperal fever reduced (13% to 2%) by hand washing - "cadaveric
material" chlorinated lime (calcium hydroxide and chloride and hypochlorite)
 Joseph Lister (1827 - 1912)- 1867 - “Antiseptic Principle of the Practice of
Surgery” - carbolic acid (phenol) as antiseptic ; the father of modern antisepsis

Antiseptics and disinfectants are chemical agents with antimicrobial activity but
no specific site of action in contrast to antibiotics, antiseptics do not have a specific
target, but agents that work through generally chemical means strong acids and bases are
corrosive and can oxidize organic molecules or denature (unfold) proteins.
An antiseptic is a substance that prevents or arrests the growth or action of
microorganisms either by inhibiting their activity or by destroying them. The term is used
especially for preparations applied topically to living tissue.

A skin antiseptic is a safe, nonirritating, antimicrobial-containing preparation that


prevents overt skin infection.

A skin wound cleanser is a safe, nonirritating, liquid preparation (or product to be used
with water) that assists in the removal of foreign material from small superficial wounds
and does not delay wound healing.

A skin wound protectant is a safe, nonirritating preparation applied to small cleansed


wounds that provides a protective barrier (physical, chemical, or both) and neither delays
healing nor favors the growth of microorganisms.

Cleansers, Antiseptics & Disinfectants


Defined by their intended use and not by their chemical content
 Cleansers - to remove foreign material
 Antiseptics - applied to living/animate objects/ tissue to kill microbes or to
inhibit their growth
 Disinfectants - to kill or inhibit microorganisms on inanimate objects

General Mode of Action

Antiseptics bind readily to bacteria, the amount absorbed increasing with an increasing
concentration solution. The most important site of absorption is the cytoplasmic
membrane.

The extent of killing of the bacteria is governed by three principal factors: (a)
concentration of the antiseptic, (b) bacterial cell density, and (c) time of contact. The
absorption of a given amount of the compound per cell leads to the killing of a
definite fraction of the bacterial population in a chosen time interval.

The necessary characteristic of antiseptics is their bactericidal action, but there is


often a low and rather narrow concentration range in which their effect is
baceriostatic. At these low concentrations, certain biochemical functions associated
with the bacterial membrane may be inhibited.

In the presence of higher concentrations of antiseptic and after prolonged treatment,


the compound usually penetrates the cell and brings about extensive ill-defined
disruption of normal cellular functions

General mechanism of action of an antiseptic/disinfectant may involve any of the


following

1. coagulation of cellular proteins


2. alteration in the bacterial cell wall
3. binding of sulfadryl (SH)groups of essential enzymes
4. disruption of protein and nucleic acid structure and synthesis
5. oxidative killing
6. competition with essential substrates for the enzymes in the cells

A deodorant or deodorizer is an agent that will destroy or overcome a foul odor. It may
or may not be disinfectant. Examples of such are: (1) For general use, chlorinated lime,
cologne water, charcoal, the smoke of burning paper, burning straw, or burning coffee;
(2) for bad breath, antiseptic solution, N. F. (containing boric acid, thymol, eucalyptol,
methyl salicylate, oil of thyme, sodium salicylate, sodium benzoate, alcohol, and water),
or hydrogen dioxide; (3) for fetid breath, creosote; (4) in foul ulcers, potassium
permanganate, hydrogen dioxide, or formal-dehyde

A preservative is an antiseptic agent used to prevent microbic changes (fermentation,


putrefaction) in organic material, such as food, medicines, etc. Preservatives are so
extensively employed in butter, milk, soups, vegetables, meat, etc., that it is possible to
ingest a large quantity of one preservative or small doses of each of several preservatives
at a single meal. Many of them retard decomposition without checking the activity of
pathogenic germs.

Sterilization is any process by which a substance is made germ-free. It usually implies


destruction of germs by heat at 100° C. (212o F.) or higher. Pasteurization is a form of
partial sterilization at 160o F. for half an hour. It is used for milk.

Antiseptics and Disinfectants


 Nonspecific killing effect
 Nonspecific disruption of cellular functions
 Caution must be taken not to harm host tissue
Ideal Antiseptic
 broad spectrum of activity
 low toxicity
 high penetrability
 active in the presence of pus and necrotic tissue
 little skin irritation
 little interference with the normal healing process
 residual activity
Order of killing Sensitive
Vegetative bacteria
Lipophilic viruses (lipid containing, enveloped)
Fungi
Hydrophilic viruses (non-lipid, non-enveloped)
Mycobacteria (Mycobacterium tuberculosis)
Bacterial spores
Resistant
Clinical Applications
 before and after surgery
 during catheterization or other invasive implants
 in immunocompromised states
- in immune defect
- in cytotoxic drug therapy
- in extreme old or young age
- in extensive skin damage (burn and wound)
Ideal Disinfectants
 broad spectrum
 fast action
 active in the presence off organic material (blood, sputum,, feces)
 compatible with detergents
 low toxicity
 residual surface activity
 should not corrode instruments or metallic surfaces
 should not disintegrate rubber,, plastic,, or other materials
 Odorless
 Economical
Factors Affecting Efficacy
 concentration of agent and contact time
 Temperature (usual chemical reaction 2x increase in rate with each 10°C
ncrease in temperature)
 pH , presence of organic or other material
 organism type (order of killing:)
Classification of antiseptics and disinfectants
A. Physical agents
 Moist Heat- –Boiling water & autoclaving
 Pasteurization
 Dry heat- –Flaming,, Incineration,, Baking in oven
 Filtration
 Radiation - Ionizing –X-rays and gamma rays; Non-ionizing –UV and infrared
light
 Ultrasonic Vibrations

B. Chemical Agents

1. Acids and alkalies- boric acid, benzoic acid, NaOH Na2CO3 quick lime(CaO)

2. Halogens- iodine Iodophores Chlorine, bromine

3. Alcohols- ethyl alcohol(70%), isopropyl alcohol (50%)

4. Phenols and Phenolics- cresol, lysol, hexyl resorcinol, hexachlorophene

5. Heavy Metals and their compounds- mercuric chloride, merchurochrome,


AgNO3, ZnO, CuSO4 etc.

6. Oxidizing agents- H2O2, KMnO4, Zn permanganate, sodium perborate, benzyl


peroxide

7. Reducing agents/ Alkylating agents- formaldehyde, ethylene oxide(gas),


glutaraldehyde

8. Dyes- acriflavine, euflavine, proflavine, gentian violet, crystal violet, methylene


blue, brilliant green, fluorescein dye, aminocrine

9. Detergents/surfactants/ Wetting agents/Cleansers- cationic(Quaternary


ammonium compoumnds- benzalkonium chloride, benzethonium
chloride, acertyl pyridinium chloride), anionic, nonionic(cetrimide)
soaps, and amphoteric

10. Miscellaneous organic compound- chlorhexidine HCl


.

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